How To: Behave In Nightclubs

It's Time To Party - Make Sure You Do It Right

It's New Years Eve, and you're ready to get down and get jiggy (okay, rule number one: never use that expression). You and your friends are ready to head down to the trendy hot spot downtown, but you want to make sure you know exactly how to act at the nightclub, let alone get in the club to begin with. Not to worry, here's a guide to help you learn the tricks of nightclub etiquette. Believe me, it's no hidden secret — just an art.

cutting the queue

Lineups outside a bar that are longer than Gisele Bundchen's legs can be discouraging but should not be an obstacle to a potentially great night. Here are some ways to make it in the club and avoid waiting outside until last call.

You are what you wear If you're going to a trendy, posh nightclub, then dress the part. This means, wear a nice pair of pants, a classy shirt and dressy shoes (relatively dressy). In other words, don't wear jeans, a cotton t-shirt and sneakers. And even if you've got the right style on top, don't spoil your classy look by wearing runners.

On the same note, make sure the people you go with know the rules too. Remind them or you may risk being shunned by the bouncer because one member of your posse is wearing jeans.

Slip it to him Bouncers may look intimidating, but they're exactly like everyone else when out on the street. When you get to the club, approach the bouncer and be friendly. Casually ask how long the wait will be. If the bouncer looks unresponsive, subtly slip a bill in his palm while shaking his hand. This should work, but remember to be discreet.

Avoid being bounced Although bouncers are just like everyone else, when waiting in line to get into a club, they are literally your ticket in. Do not, and I repeat, do not act cocky and arrogant. None of that, "Hey man, come on, can't you do better than that?" or "Buddy, just let us in." Not only will you not get into the club, you will never be able to show your face in line again.

Don't try to act cooler than the bouncer. Respect him, and establish a rapport with him by being friendly. If that doesn't work, then slip him a Benjamin.

Line up When you get in line, make sure that you're in the right line. Some trendy clubs have one line for VIPs and a second one for the regular folk. You don't want to spend 20 minutes waiting in the VIP line, to then find yourself having to go back to the end of the other line.

Mesh and mingle Women have it very easy when it comes to getting into clubs. All they have to do is flash a little bit of this and a little bit of that, smile at the bouncer, and they usually don't wait more than a few minutes to get in. If they do get bounced, it's out of the line and into the club. You can't exactly flaunt your physical attributes in order to get into a club quicker, but what you can do is use women waiting in line as your ticket in.

While in line, chat and mingle with women in line. Don't be sleazy and act like you're picking them up. Just be friendly with them. Your goal: to blend yourselves in with the hot girls in line so that you get in as a unit. Another thing to remember is that couples are more likely to get into a bar rather than a whole group of people.

You are also less likely to get in if you are a large group of males, so keep the size of your crew limited or split up while in line.